Sr Software Engineer, Product Owner - Ground Software

Sierra Space•Centennial, CO

5d•$156,666 - $215,437

About The Position

The Sr. Software Engineer role involves designing, developing, and testing software applications for space systems and technologies. This advanced position requires deep expertise in multiple programming languages, an advanced understanding of software development principles, and the ability to design, architect, and implement complex software systems. The role includes writing clean, maintainable code, collaborating with team members to understand project requirements, and contributing to the development of innovative software solutions. Additionally, this position may involve providing technical leadership, mentorship, and making high-level design decisions that significantly impact program cost, schedule, and technical performance. In this role, you will design, develop, and test software applications for space systems and technologies while writing clean, maintainable code that adheres to best practices and coding standards. You will architect and implement complex software systems to meet project requirements and collaborate with team members to understand project needs, contributing to the development of effective software solutions. Utilizing version control systems such as Git, you will manage code changes and work collaboratively with team members. You will participate in code reviews to ensure code quality and adherence to development standards, troubleshoot and resolve software-related issues in a timely manner, and document software configurations, processes, and procedures for future reference. Staying current with industry trends and advancements in software development and space technologies will be essential. Additionally, you will provide technical leadership, mentorship, and support to team members, making high-level design decisions that have significant impacts on program cost, schedule, and technical performance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or master's +6 yrs experience).
Typically, 8+ years of related experience.
Deep expertise in multiple programming languages and software development principles.
Ability to design, architect, and implement complex software systems.
Experience with different software development methodologies such as Agile and Scrum/Kanban.
Strong leadership skills to lead a team of engineers.
Ability to make high-level design decisions that will have significant impacts on program cost, schedule, and technical performance.
The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance is required.
U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
Experience with kernel-level programming.
Proficiency in programming languages (Python, C++, Java) and their ecosystems.
In-depth knowledge of scripting languages and automation tools.
Proven experience with software development methodologies such as Agile or Kanban/Scrum.
Exceptional analytical skills and meticulous attention to detail.
Superior communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale software projects from inception to completion.
Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills.
Strong analytical skills, performance profiling, and debugging complex systems.
Excellent communication and teamwork skills, and efficient with collaborative tools (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) and development ceremonies (daily standup, backlog grooming, work planning, task estimation, retrospectives, etc.).
Ability to write and maintain technical documentation.
Experience with continuous integration and automated test.
Knowledge of and experience implementing Software Design Patterns.
Familiarity with SysML/UML to create software designs.
Experience utilizing and setting up static analysis tools.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and test software applications for space systems and technologies.
Write clean, maintainable code that adheres to best practices and coding standards.
Architect and implement complex software systems to meet project requirements.
Collaborate with team members to understand project needs, contributing to the development of effective software solutions.
Utilize version control systems such as Git to manage code changes and work collaboratively with team members.
Participate in code reviews to ensure code quality and adherence to development standards.
Troubleshoot and resolve software-related issues in a timely manner.
Document software configurations, processes, and procedures for future reference.
Stay current with industry trends and advancements in software development and space technologies.
Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and support to team members.
Make high-level design decisions that have significant impacts on program cost, schedule, and technical performance.
Own the product backlog and roadmap development, translating business requirements and customer needs into well-defined user stories while ensuring technical feasibility and alignment with architectural vision.
Drive prioritization decisions across competing features and technical requirements, collaborating with stakeholders to balance business value, technical constraints, and resource availability.
Serve as the bridge between technical teams and business stakeholders, effectively communicating product vision, requirements, and trade-offs while advocating for engineering best practices and sustainable development.